hears and answers, that he is able and willing to help. Yes, only let your delight be in the Lord, and he will give you the desire of your heart. If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God; and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Let it thereupon be your consolation that you have a good conscience, and study to lead a good life. Above all things look too it, that no man seduce you, and deprive you of this consolation.

And is this the meaning of your "Yes?then hail to you as new members of Christ's church! Yes, then are you members of his church in deed and in truth; incorporated as members of that body of which he is the Head; and in possession of all that, which he offered and ensured to you in baptism. Yes, it does not yet appear what you shall be and shall have; still what is to be hoped for hereafter is as sure to you, as if you had already received it. He confirms and ratifies to you his promise in baptism, and he will confirm and establish you in your faith, confirm and strengthen you to the purification of your heart and life,

confirm and corroborate your hope. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. How faithful he is to the faithful, what he will be and will give to his faithful ones, is particularly testified and assured to you by that supwhich you per, will celebrate with the members of his church in commemoration of his death. It explains and assures what it is that you wish to be to him who is your Lord; and in the supper he too explains and assures what it is that he will be to you. You wish to give yourself up entirely to him, and he wishes to give himself up entirely to you. This you say to him! this he says to you by the supper! Behold, how well he knows man, and the wants of man! He knows what he needs who is hungering and thirsting after righteousness, after conformity to him, after communion with him and the Father; and he will give to every one who turns to him that which he needs in order to be nourished and strengthened, revived and refreshed. So he promised and every supper confirms the promise of his mouth.

THE LOVE OF JESUS.

PART SECOND.

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 CORINTHIANS 11: 23-29.

For I have received of the Lord that which also delivered unto you; That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damination to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Behold, here is full instruction upon what is

most essential and important to be considered in this holy act, in which we are all unitedly to participate to-morrow, and for which we wish to prepare ourselves more fully to-day. Who instituted this repast, which we call the Lord's supper; when it was instituted, and observed for the first time; how it was observed, and how and for what reason it was to continue to be observed through all coming time; what it had for its signification and object; what the spirit and heart is at that time to be fixed upon; what should then be the state of the mind and heart, and how they are to be prepared for it, so as not to be made sinful and punishable by participation in the repast, -all this is comprised in the instruction upon the holy supper which the apostle gave to the christian church in the city of Corinth. In this important and splendid city of Greece there was an important church. But alas! even at that time, it had come to such a pass in a christian Church, that in the very holiest assemblies of Christians it often occurred, that indeed it could not be seen that they who were together were Christians; and still less could

it have been thought that they had come together in order to worship Christ, their Lord, with the deepest veneration, and to commemorate him with the pledges of his highest love, with the emblems of the blessings and benefits of his death, with sorrowing, heart-felt love, and with tender, fervent gratitude.

Christians in those times often assembled for certain mutual festivals, which they were accustomed to conclude with the breaking of bread, and drinking the cup of thanksgiving, according to the will and command of their Lord. Jesus at the feast of the Passover had instituted this memorial of his death. His first disciples wished to manage every thing as exactly as possible according to their Lord's institution; and who does not respect and highly estimate their intention? Hence arose those social repasts which they called love-feasts. A beautiful, appropriate name! if only it had always retained the reality with the name. But alas! if we notice in this eleventh chapter of Corinthians what it was that induced the apostle to repeat this instruction upon the holy supper, so circumstantially and in writing, to a